ISABEL MARIA ALVARO ALONSO

Cybersecurity: Protecting the merging of the physical and digital world

As the world progresses towards a digital transformation, it encounters new vulnerabilities that are susceptible to cybercrime. Cyberattacks pose significant threats to governments, companies, and society as a whole, involving malicious activities such as unauthorized access to sensitive or strategic data, disruption of digital services, or compromising the integrity of devices. However, what sets IoT cyberattacks apart is their capacity to inflict harm in the physical world, potentially endangering human lives.

The Internet of Things is bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds. Through edge devices, individuals are able to monitor and control their physical environment, giving everyday objects a new dimension. To adequately promote its opportunities and mitigate risks, it is crucial to promote new market dynamics that incentivize investment and research; introduce security incentives; raise users' awareness and education; and reinforce international cooperation and standards.